ZZR250, some questions

Hi guys, i have a couple of questions about my new (used) ZZR 250, they
might sound a bit stupid but its all new to me.

1. What sort of range should i get out of a tank of fuel. I do probaby 70%
of my riding on the open road.

2. The fuel tap has on, reserve & prime, what is prime for? And what should
i keep the bike on while it is not in use?

3. It currently has near new Battlaxe BT-45's front and rear. Does anyone
have any words of wisdom about these, and when it comes time to replace
them, what should i be looking at?

I think thats about it at the moment.

 

2. The fuel tap has on, reserve & prime, what is prime for? And what
should

I googled this one and pretty much got an answer, but my next question is do
i use the prime setting every morning when i first start up or just when the
bike has been standing for a week?

I assume i just leave the tap on, as there is no off, right?

Steve

 

I googled this one and pretty much got an answer, but my next question is do
i use the prime setting every morning when i first start up or just when the
bike has been standing for a week?[/QUOTE]

You'll probably find the only time you *ever* need it is when you've run
it completely out of fuel.

Yeah, the "on" position has a vacuum operated valve in it so its only
actually going to flow fuel when the engine is running (the float bowls
in the carbs have more than enough fuel in them to get it started - even
if its been standing a few weeks, a few _years_ standing might need it
to be switched to "prime", but then its likely to need the carbs opened
up and cleaned as well then...)

big

 

Fuel range: at least 300km. I get 320-350 out of a tank on the GPX250.

Tap: Use on unless you need to use something else. Prime is only for when it
needs priming. (After cleaning carbs, or after it's been sitting for a long
time (probably longer than a week.) Leave it in the ON or RESERVE positions
when not in use. Never prime.

Don't know anything in particular, good or bad, about the tires.

Good choice of bike though. You'll enjoy it.

 

All these and ive only had my licence for a week.

You'll probably find the only time you *ever* need it is when you've run
it completely out of fuel.

Yeah, the "on" position has a vacuum operated valve in it so its only
actually going to flow fuel when the engine is running (the float bowls
in the carbs have more than enough fuel in them to get it started - even
if its been standing a few weeks, a few _years_ standing might need it
to be switched to "prime", but then its likely to need the carbs opened
up and cleaned as well then...)

big[/QUOTE]

Thanks for that Iain.

Steve

 

floor)


Yeah i had narrowed my choices down to 3 bikes. The ZZR, GPX and the Across.
But i ruled out the Across due to fuel range, i love the glovebox but i live
out of town so i really needed something that holds a bit more fuel. If i
lived in town i would almost certainly have gone with an Across. So yeah i
would have been happy with either a GPX or ZZR. I just happened to find a
nice ZZR in my price range first.

Anyway thanks for the reply. And BTW what happened to your ZX10?

Steve

 

My ZX10 is in bits at the moment, while I do it up a bit and fix a few
troubles.

It had a couple of oil leaks and needed to replace several of the bearings.

So, I pulled it to bits, and am in the process of putting it back together,
along also with putting in an ignition advancer, K&N filter, Formula 1
Magnum pipes, ZZR-1100 shock, etc etc etc.

I'll put a post up about it once it's back on the road.

 

Fair enough, i wish i had the knowledge to do all that, but if i was to pull
apart one of my bikes im pretty sure that is how it would stay, i certainly
have bugger all chance of getting it working again anyway.

Steve

 

only need prime if you've run it dry, or left it sitting for months and
months


Mick G
'98 ZX9

 

tried a few tyres on my 250, can't recommend the BT45's highly enough
used to go through fronts like nothing else, but that's probably the way
i ride as opposed to any fundamental prob with the tyre....

Hope that helps?

Mick G
'98 ZX9

 

Just start with the small stuff like oil changes, and work your way up
as you gain experience. Few of us[1] tear a bike apart as far as
James' ZX10 on their first attempt at motorcycle maintenance.


BTH
[1] Although from the number of "bikes in a couple of cardboard boxes"
that you see for sale, quite a few *do*!

 

I used to get:
'01 ZZR250 in Syd commuting (brand new bike)
18Ltr Tank = 26km/ltr
Average = I was really getting about 380 before hitting reserve...

This was commuting to work 52km round trip.

 

Time for another update for this page
http://www.imagine-it.com.au/ausmoto/tyres.htm

Keep the info coming in and I'll keep it updated. Makes these
questions a bit easier to answer. Mind you it is obviously still
personal preference.

Cheers

Kevin Gleeson
Imagine It
West Hobart
Tasmania Australia
www.imagine-it.com.au

 

Trial an error is the best way to learn. (I've had lots of trials, and made
lots of errors. <grin>)

 

Don't ever hop off it and walk away with the tap on anything

Prime will only make it piss all over the floor if you have a problem with
your float-valves. If this is the case, you really should see to that
problem (as you will end up with incorrect fuel levels in the bowls when
it's running, too).

That having been said, float valves are not a _perfect_ seal often, so yes,
better not to leave it on prime, as it may leak a little bit after having
sat for a fair while. (It may leak _very_ slowly, but it certainly shouldn't
piss all over the floor. Bad dog. No biscuit.)

 

I've got a '91 ZZR250 and can confirm GB's 340 to reserve around town, you
should do a bit better on the open road.

Always ride with it in the ON position. Ride until you notice the engine
start to die (you've hit reserve) and quickly switch to RES before it
totally stops. If it does stop (it probably will until you get the hang of
switching quickly on the go) switch to PRI and start the bike. Switch to
RES as soon as it starts and go fill up. Don't forget to change back to ON
when you fill up or you'll be walking next time it dies for fuel. I reset
the trip meter each time too, so I know how close to reserve I am.

I had Dunlop GT501s on mine when I got it and changed to Bridgestone BT45s.
I like the BT45s much better, seems to turn in nicer and better in the wet.
The dual compound (sticky softer rubber on the edges and harder longer
lasting rubber in the centre) means they won't square off with lots of
highway riding.

Skuz
'91 ZZR250

 

Not, at least, until it's filled up the crankcases!

--
Pete ....and it _will_ happen, sooner or later, ask any old ****. And in
my day they were called needle and seats. And I still don't trust these
vacuum things.

The journey IS the destination.

 

You bastard! Giz new keyboard, one without beer all
through it!

G

 

Much better than the 150km or so that i get on the XT250.

Steve

 

3. It currently has near new Battlaxe BT-45's front and rear. Does
anyone

Thanks for the reply Skuz.

Ive only done about 175km since i picked up the bike on Wed. but i did ride
it to work in the rain the other day and i was happy with the grip i was
getting, although i have about 3km's of dirt road to travel and that was a
bit slippery at times but i just took it slow and didnt have any problems.

I forgot to post some details on the bike in my original post.

Its a red 1994 model with around 42,000km's on it. I picked it up for just
over $3000, including the transfer fee's etc. It has a rack on the back and
they threw in an old rack bag that will keep me going until i get around to
buying a good one. And its a lot more fun to ride on the road than my XT.


Steve